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Oklahoma State football: Are the Cowboys stepping into a bear trap in Waco?

OSU FOOTBALL — The December version of the Baylor Bears look a lot different than they did earlier in the season. Baylor has won three of its last four, including an upset of No. 1 Kansas State, and is scoring points in bunches. Oklahoma State and Baylor kick off at 11 a.m. Saturday in Waco, Texas.

The Bears had lost four consecutive games to start the Big 12 season and could not stop anybody on defense. OSU, meanwhile, was still a contender to repeat as conference champions. And history was on OSU's side, with the Cowboys winning 15 of the last 16 meetings, including six straight blowout victories.

But suddenly, Saturday's matinee contest at Floyd Casey Stadium appears way more dangerous.

Baylor has won three of its past four games, including a convincing upset of then-No. 1 Kansas State and an overtime victory over Texas Tech to become bowl eligible. And OSU is coming off a heartbreaking overtime loss to Oklahoma, a game the Cowboys led until the final score.

As Cowboy offensive coordinator Todd Monken said, timing is often critical in college football.

“West Virginia at that moment (Baylor) played them was really playing well,” Monken said. “Texas was playing better on offense than they are now. They probably caught Kansas State at the right time.

“Sometimes when you play somebody (makes a difference). Confidence is a big part of it.”

The timing could also be critical for Art Briles, the man who has built Baylor into a relevant program. He's been mentioned as a candidate for several head coaching jobs, most notably Arkansas, meaning Saturday could mark his final game coaching in Waco

But what's led to the Bears' surge down the stretch?

Offense has never been a problem this season, even without former Heisman winner Robert Griffin III. Nick Florence has stepped in brilliantly, leading the nation in total offense. And receiver Terrance Williams is finalist for the Biletnikoff award and is sure to present a challenge for the Cowboys' pass defense that allowed 500 yards through the air a week ago.